You’re starting to see them everywhere. They look like jigsaw puzzles, sometimes in color, but most often in black-and-white. You see them in magazine advertisements, on posters and billboards, on business cards, and just about everywhere else. They are quick response (or QR) codes, sometimes called QRCs.

If viewers see something they like (an advertisement, the front of your t-shirt, etc.), they simply snap a picture of the QR code with the cellphones. The phone is automatically directed to a webpage, video, or other content. Static content suddenly turns into a dynamic, interactive medium.

What’s the big deal about QR codes? Why is their use literally exploding all around the world? Let’s take a look at some of their benefits: